29 May 2000

DURBAN MARCH WILL BE PEACEFUL -- NOT "ANOTHER SEATTLE"

JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE TREATMENT ACTION GROUP AND THE XIII INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCES

The Treatment Action Campaign march against pharmaceutical giants and governments - planned to coincide with the opening day of the 13th International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa in July, will be peaceful and legal. The march has been endorsed by trade unions and many local and international organisations.

The demonstration will be held in Durban on 9 July, the first day of the XIII International AIDS Conference starting at 15h00 in front of Durban City Hall.

Contrary to previous news reports which likened the planned demonstration to a "Seattle-type demonstration," referring to a demonstration against the World Trade Organisation conference in the USA last year which turned violent, the march organisers, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) stressed that this would be an entirely peaceful demonstration by a committed group of individuals and organisations working within the framework of responsible NGOs.

This statement was made this week at a meeting between TAC and the AIDS 2000 conference organisers. Both parties are in full support of the demonstration and its objectives: treatment access, improved health infrastructure and prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child.

According to TAC spokesperson, Promise Mthembu these issues are of utmost importance in global terms.

Zackie Achmat, TAC chairperson said, "TAC and its constituencies believe that the march will have the attention of the world. We wish to highlight that the majority of people with HIV don't have access to treatment. Violence would take attention away from this critical issue. Therefore, it is in the interest of everyone that the march be a peaceful one."

TAC stressed that this was not a demonstration against AIDS 2000, its delegates or participants, and the group would reiterate the objectives and methods of the march to those participating in it to ensure that it proceeded without incident.

AIDS 2000 Conference Chair, Prof Hoosen Coovadia said conference organisers had given their full support to the demonstration.

"We are in concordance with the objectives of the march. In fact, some AIDS 2000 staff will take part in the demonstration, and Iām sure many delegates will feel compelled to support this important event," said Prof. Coovadia.

The two bodies also discussed and agreed on a strategy to contain any disruptive elements who might attempt to use the proceedings for their own purposes. Every avenue was being explored to ensure the safety of the all conference delegates and march participants.

The march will culminate in the handing over of a memorandum highlighting its objectives to government, conference and corporate officials. The march and memorandum handover will occur outside the main conference venues.

For more information, visit the TAC website www.tac.org.za.

Issued by: Treatment Action Campaign & the XIII International AIDS Conference

Contact information:

AIDS 2000 Promise Mthembu Karen Bennett Tel: +27 31 3043673 Tel: +27 31 3010400 email: karenb@aids2000.com

or Fakazile Myeza Tel: 083 467 1152 Email: fakazilem@aids2000.com zackie@pixie.co.za

TREATMENT ACTION CAMPAIGN
Promise Mthembu Tel: +27 31 3043673
Email: msf-tac@mweb.co.za or Zackie Achmat
Tel: 083 467 1152 zackie@pixie.co.za

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